The Lyrid meteor shower peaked around April 22, bringing a brief but notable increase in visible meteors across the night sky. The annual event is one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, with observations dating back more than 2,700 years.
The Lyrids are caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by the Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). As these particles enter the atmosphere, they burn up and create streaks of light, commonly known as shooting stars. According to Space.com, “Shooting stars appear when fragments of comets and asteroids cross paths with Earth, ending their existence in a fiery outburst as they are swiftly overwhelmed by the extreme heat and pressure of atmospheric entry.”
This year’s peak occurred as Earth passed through a denser section of the comet’s debris trail. According to coverage of the event, “The Lyrid meteor shower put on a spectacular show last night as Earth plunged through the debris stream cast off by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), triggering a peak of activity that saw shooting stars blaze a path away from the blue-white star Vega in the constellation Lyra.” The star Vega, located in the constellation Lyra, marks the point from which the meteors appear to originate.
Under dark sky conditions, people can typically see between 10 and 20 meteors per hour during the peak. Although the Lyrids are not the most active meteor shower of the year, they are known for producing occasional bright meteors, sometimes called fireballs.
The event also drew attention from photographers and astronomers. In Alberta, Canada, a photographer named Harlan Thomas captured images of meteors appearing alongside auroras. He noted, “The image was taken West of Calgary in an area called Jumping Pound on April 20, 2026. at 4:20 a.m. MDT (10:20 a.m. GMT).” Meanwhile, photographer Tim Pruss described the effort required to capture a single meteor: “I reviewed over 2,000 images, frame by frame, just to find one meteor, and I’d do it again tomorrow.”
Even after the peak, the Lyrids remain active for several days, though at lower rates. Observers are recommended to view them after midnight and before dawn, away from artificial light. The Lyrid meteor shower continues to be a consistent annual event, giving scientists and casual observers an opportunity to study this astronomical phenomenon.